REVIEW: The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score

In The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score, Riley Thorn is new to the world of private investigation, but she is *not* new to the manipulation and narcissism of her ex-husband Griffin Gentry. That’s why when he shows up on her doorstep, pleading for Riley and her boyfriend, Nick Santiago, to keep him safe from murdery bad guys, she wants nothing to do with him. But the money Griffin could cough up for Santiago Investigations…now that is reason for pause. The choice is made for them when Mrs. Penny, Nick’s business partner, next door neighbor, and octogenarian extraordinaire, quickly takes the case. And Riley knows right away that their world is only going to get even more crazy.

‘Life was chaotic enough under normal circumstances, but throw in an ex-husband that wouldn’t go away, a dead body, and five new roommates, and Riley felt like she was on an out-of-control merry-go-round.’

Nick can’t believe his luck in not only finding someone as wonderful (and sexy) as Riley, but that she agreed to live with him and even work with him. What he *can* believe is the bad luck that seems to follow them around. Or is that just the crew of elderly neighbors who are now temporarily living with Nick and Riley…again? Either way, his goal to keep her safe goes sideways for the millionth time when stupid Griffin grovels at their door. He’s already caused enough havoc in Riley’s life. But when it turns out that the TV news anchor actually isn’t deluded and there is really someone out to kill him, Nick knows it’s game on. Because the quicker he can get rid of Riley’s dimwitted ex, the sooner they can get on with the rest of their hopefully blissful life.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to let Mrs. Penny be Griffin’s personal security?”
“Nope. But it’ll annoy Gentry, and she’s batty enough to scare off most people with any sense of self-preservation. Plus, with someone else babysitting him, Josie can help Brian whittle down the phone book of suspects we’re looking for.”

CW: View Spoiler »Attempted murder, murder, cheating (not detailed, secondary cast), stalking. « Hide Spoiler

‘Griffin was bringing danger right to their doorstep.’

THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD, Lucy Score’s fourth novel in the Riley Thorn series, found Riley, Nick, Josie, Brian, Mrs. Penny, and the rest of the octogenarian crew on a chaotic madcap adventure once again. And I loved every single minute of it. A blend of romantic comedy, magical realism/paranormal (Riley is psychic), and cozy mystery, this mashup might not be everyone’s type of book, but it totally worked for me. And I swear, with each new installment, I fall a little bit more in love with this wild–and wildly funny–cast of characters.

We picked right up where book three (Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past) left off, so this is a series best read in sequential order. I think fans will have to laugh that not only did awesome Riley and hunky Nick’s new home get invaded by their outrageous geriatric neighbors after a roof-caving-in mishap, but that her whiny, narcissistic ex-husband Griffin basically begged for Nick and Riley to catch a bad guy trying to kill him. Score was able to take a person that her readers already loved to hate and added on more and more reasons to roll our eyes all while thinking of ways to shut him up. (lol)

Added in for good measure was Griffin’s fiancée, Bella Goodshine. Wow…just when I thought Griffin was annoying, we got more time to get to know his future wife who was a weather girl (*not* a meteorologist) at the same news station where he anchors. Score kept me in stitches with how daft, self-absorbed, and yet crafty the pair were. Between their antics, the series of threats against Griffin, Riley and Nick trying to wrangle their elderly friends out of trouble, and a momentous scene at the end, THE BODY IN THE BACKYARD should be at the top of Lucy Score’s fans’ summer reading list.

QOTD: What’s on your summer reading list?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: July 16th, 2024 | by Bloom Books | Riley Thorn #4

Her self-absorbed news anchor ex-husband careening back into her life was not on this amateur psychic detective’s bingo card. Not only does Griffin Gentry show up unexpectedly at Riley Thorn’s door—the real shock is that he’s begging her for help. Riley’s hot private investigator boyfriend Nick Santiago refusing to take the job is…well, less of a surprise. Too bad for Nick that his octogenarian business partner overrules him and takes the lead on Griffin’s case. But when a dead body makes it clear someone really is out to get Riley’s ex, the mile-long suspect list means all hands-on deck at Santiago Investigations. Even the wrinkly, retired ones. It’s only a matter of time before Griffin brings the danger directly to their doorstep. And with Riley and Nick busy interviewing suspects, that leaves their elderly roommates to wreak havoc in the surveillance department. Can Riley block out the chaos to focus her psychic visions long enough to narrow down the list of suspects? Or will Griffin Gentry’s bad karma be the downfall of them all?